To travel you do not have to wait for the time you go on vacation. Even on a workweek, there is a time for a trip. To diversify your weekends and to get new impressions and emotions you can make a fantastic trip embracing our programme "short breaks".

Take your friends or family, choose up to three cities you want to visit and make a fabulous journey. In this weekend tour, you can stay for a one or two nights in the places you have chosen. You can be on excursions exploring and admiring the cities during the whole day and enjoy breathtaking views of the places recollecting bright moments of your trip at night. From dawn till night you will be able to see how the cities and everything around you change. Morning day will present the architecture and the landscape in sunlight glory while night will show transformed buildings and streets sinking in illumination.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to souvenirs from Russia? Of course, it is matryoshka, balalaika, vodka and caviar. Oh, and a hat with ear flaps as well! However, the ear flap hat is now in vogue, and has ceased to be such a rarity, vodka can be bought almost anywhere in the world.

Numerous souvenir shops are vying to sell magnets, mugs and T-shirts with slogans and thematic images (flag and coat of arms of Russia, funny sayings, bears, portraits of politicians and well-known writers), sailor's striped vests, as well as handicrafts. Khokhloma, Gzhel, enamel, birch amulets and Vologda lacework… the assortment is huge! But when you make purchases, don’t lower your guard.
Some unscrupulous sellers may try to sell you cheaper and substandard imitations. Of course, most of the shops have certificates for their goods and buy them directly from factories and workshops.
To help you not to get lost in all this colorful variety and tell how and where it is better to buy particular products, we have prepared separate articles for you on Russian folk crafts.

It makes sense to look for more valuable and rare souvenirs in antique shops.
Old coins, porcelain figurines of the Soviet era, icons, clocks, badges, decorations - one does not know where to look first!
But even here there are potential pitfalls. Apart from the fact that the seller may seriously inflate the price of what you want to buy, arguing that it is older or more valuable than it really is, there may be problems taking it out of the country.

As of today, it is prohibited to take any items of cultural value (books, figurines, icons, pictures, etc.), created prior to January 1, 1964 out of the country.

Important note: items of cultural value do not include cultural goods of serial and mass production, or modern souvenirs.

However, sometimes even an item of mass production manufactured over fifty years ago may attract the close attention of the customs service. If you want to protect yourself from unforeseen delays and undesired proceedings (the item is likely to stay with you, which, alas, cannot be said of your nerve cells), you can send the purchase to your own address by mail, after packing it carefully to avoid damage. Make sure that the package has a warning sign if the item is fragile.

Are you a little confused with all this information? Our team members are always ready to help you navigate all the rules, addresses, products and prices!

You will definitely find something to your liking and within your budget with all the variety of great Russian souvenirs!

Jumble Markets

Jumble Markets will delight you with interesting and rich treasures. As with elsewhere in the world, these markets appeared in Russia during not-so-good times for the country and its citizens. The first jumble market was opened by order of the Governor-General Rostopchin at the Sukharev Tower, after the War of 1812. Abandoned items left in the abandoned burnt down city were sold there. Those who returned tried to find their belongings, sometimes in vain.

According to the decree, an item belonged to the individual who possessed it at that moment. Sometimes the only way to get it back was to buy it again at the jumble market. Nowadays jumble markets - spontaneous or organized - exist in almost every city in the country.

Most jumble market sellers in large cities are professionals. They will certainly tell you an interesting story behind the little things you buy and give you an opportunity to bargain reasonably. Occasionally, however, the owner will be selling his or her things directly.

A jumble market is an excellent opportunity to purchase something original and memorable for yourself or as a gift.
The main jumble market in Russia is located in St. Petersburg, at the railway station Ydelnaya. Udelka is a real source of rare and unusual things! Icons, samovars, vintage perfume bottles and medicines, jewel boxes, paintings, decorations, and especially interior design items. Even somewhat less rare and less valuable trinkets will certainly catch your attention. Remember - if you do not want to miss your chance, visit the market early. The morning is a great time to hunt for treasures.

The two most popular jumble markets in Moscow are Levsha, located near the train station Novopodrezkovo, and Izmailovo, located on the grounds of the Izmailovsky vernissage. Izmailovo is more expensive, it features selected goods, and the sellers are professionals. Levsha also gives you an opportunity to buy nice items on the cheap, but you will have to search for it first. Most sellers are amateurs, although you may find professional antique dealers. If your aim is to buy something truly rare and valuable, you need to go to the market very early. After 10 AM you will not find anything like this.

Don’t forget to drop by the market in Muzeon park. It will delight you with an abundance of hand-made jewelry, figurines, and vintage clothing. It is open only on Saturdays. At the site of the once famous market in Tishinskaya Square there is now an Exhibition and Trade Complex (ETC). Nevertheless, the exhibition A Jumble Market is held once a year in its premises. You can check the dates and schedule of the exhibition on the web-site of the ETC Tishinka.
The location of jumble markets in other cities of your interest can be found on the internet, provided by local residents, or by our specialists.